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2008

  • Information on USCIS Case Status Online System Lockouts (12/10/2008)
    Members have been reporting problems with the USCIS Case Status Online system. In particular, many members have reported that they were locked out and unable to access the system for long periods of time. AILA Doc. No. 08121066.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (11/13/08)(67 KB - 12/4/2008)
    The Q&As address the SSI extension bill, Form I-693 and medical vaccinations, Adam Walsh I-130 cases, N-400s, errors on I-797s and the NCSC, G-28s, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08120461.
  • AILA/USCIS Liaison Minutes, October 28, 2008(176 KB - 11/7/2008)
    These minutes from the AILA/USCIS liaison meeting on October 28, 2008, address the weight of USCIS policy memos, Specialized Knowledge, Definition of “Affiliated With” for H-1B Cap Purposes, Successor in Interest Denials , Denials without RFEs and NOIDs, boilerplate RFEs, Child Status Protection Act, Combined EAD/AP documents, and much more. AILA Doc. No. 08110767.
  • N-400 Naturalization Application Expires October 31,2008, but Remains Valid Until Revised Version is Released (10/31/2008)
    While the prior edition of the N-400 application for Naturalization expires today, October 31, 2008, a new edition has not been posted to the USCIS website. USCIS has informed the public that applicants may continue to submit their application on any useable edition of the form until further notice. AILA Doc. No. 08103169.
  • Update on New TN Regulation (10/22/2008)
    AILA provides guidance on the new TN regulation. AILA Doc. No. 08102261.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (9/30/08)(259 KB - 10/22/2008)
    The Q&As address electronic filing, the Secure Mailing Initiative, I-730s for Montagnards, a I-485 & I-601 filing for a HRIFA dependent, security checks and I-551 stamps, stakeholder meetings with district and field offices, N-648s, the religious worker sunset, the new natz exam, I-140 processing delays, premium processing for I-140s and more. AILA Doc. No. 08102260.
  • CDJ Waiver Appointment System Back Up (Updated 9/4/08) (9/4/2008)
    Warren Janssen, Officer-in-Charge at the USCIS Ciudad Juarez office, has advised AILA liaison that the immigrant visa waiver appointment system has resumed operation effective September 4, 2008, and that the first available appointments are on November 12, 2008. AILA Doc. No. 08090364.
  • Naturalization Cycle Processing Times October 2006- September 2007(1998 KB - 8/6/2008)
    USCIS released cycle processing times for October 2006 – September 2007. AILA Doc. No. 08080660.
  • Religious Organizations Request Expedited Treatment for Religious Worker Adjustments(63 KB - 8/1/2008)
    In light of the impending sunset of the non-minister religious worker special immigrant provisions, a group of religious organizations sent a letter to USCIS' Acting Director Jonathan Scharfen urging expedited treatment so applicants in this category can adjust status prior to the 9/30/08 sunset. AILA Doc. No. 08080163.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (8/26/08)(61 KB - 8/26/2008)
    The Q&As address Special Immigrant Visa program, Fee waivers, N-400s, I-360s, Lautenberg parolees, I-485s, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08082690.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (7/29/08)(67 KB - 7/29/2008)
    The Q&As address I-730s, withholding or removal, 245i eligibility, I-130s, T visas, Special Immigrant Visas, adjustment of status, Refund of fees, asylum, N-400s, RFEs, humanitarian parole, HPV vaccine, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08072990.
  • USCIS Online Case Status System & NCSC Experiencing Problems (7/24/2008)
    AILA Liaison has confirmed with USCIS that the database for their Case Status Service Online system has been experiencing problems, thus making the system go down. This is affecting the ability of the National Customer Service System (1-800 number) to take and service status inquiries. USCIS is working on the problems. AILA Doc. No. 08072463.
  • I-140 Premium Processing for H-out Situations: Update #2 (7/18/2008)
    AILA liaison continues to discuss the current program and possible revisions or expansions with USCIS. However, to date, there have not been any changes to the program from what was stated in the USCIS update. AILA Doc. No. 08071879.
  • AILA-USCIS Update on Two-Year EAD Processing (7/18/2008)
    USCIS had previously announced that they would begin to issue 2-year EAD cards for some adjustment applicants under 8 C.F.R. §274a.12(c)(9). USCIS has provided AILA liaison with additional clarifications regarding eligibility for the 2-year card. AILA Doc. No. 08071878.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (6/24/08)(88 KB - 6/24/2008)
    The Q&As address I-131s and fingerprinting, Naturalization study guide, N-400 adjudicator training, N-400s, translation of Naturalization test materials, I-730s, I-102s, fee waivers, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08062490.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (5/27/08)(67 KB - 6/12/2008)
    The Q & A address the FBI name check backlog & N-400s, N-648s, CSPA, F-2As, multi-year EADs, correcting a “green card” error while abroad, biometrics fees for refugee I-485 applicants, the need for biometrics if a child turns 14 while a case is pending, needed documentation for refugee I-485s, Iraqi/Afghan SIVs, E-Verify and more. AILA Doc. No. 08061270.
  • Lautenberg Parolees are Eligible for an Individual Fee Waiver for Form I-485 (6/3/2008)
    Liaison has been notified by USCIS that Lautenberg parolees are eligible for an individual fee waiver for Form I-485. AILA Doc. No. 08060363.
  • Regulations, Rumors and the Unified Agenda (6/2/2008)
    How the rumor du jour about an "imminent regulation" came about. AILA Doc. No. 08060267.
  • USCIS Updates Lockbox Courier Address (5/29/2008)
    USCIS updated the courier address for the USCIS Lockbox. Check the USCIS website before filing. AILA Doc. No. 08052971.
  • USCIS Accepting Previous Editions of I-290B (5/28/2008)
    USCIS added the “Y” notation to Form I-290B, revised 3/4/08. Previous editions of Form I-290B will be accepted. AILA Doc. No. 08052867.
  • F-1 STEM OPT E-Verify Clarification (5/22/2008)
    Katherine Lotspeich, Acting Chief, USCIS Verification Division, provides guidance on e-verify requirements under the new regulation allowing a 17-month F-1 OPT extension for STEM graduates. AILA Doc. No. 08052272.
  • Liaison Update: New Form I-290B (5/16/2008)
    A new version of Form I-290B has been added to the USCIS website. According to USCIS.gov, the new form was effective March 4, 2008 and no prior versions of the form are accepted. AILA liaison has been in conversations with USCIS about the lack of notice regarding the new version of the form and has asked for a transition period to be added. AILA Doc. No. 08051667.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As 4/29/08 (Updated 7/2/08)(46 KB - 6/4/2008)
    USCIS revised the answer to question #12 of the Q & As from the 4/29/08 Stakeholder meeting. The revised answer pertains to administratively closed I-730 applications. AILA Doc. No. 08050667.
  • USCIS Approves Los Angeles Film Regional Center for EB-5 Pilot Program(307 KB - 5/2/2008)
    USCIS recently approved and designated the Los Angeles Film Regional Center for participation in the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program. AILA Doc. No. 08050262.
  • USCIS Approves Southeast Los Angeles Regional Center for EB-5 Pilot Program(296 KB - 5/2/2008)
    USCIS Approves Southeast Los Angeles Regional Center for EB5 Pilot Program. AILA Doc. No. 08050261.
  • Labor Certification Expiration and Section 106 of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21)(121 KB - 4/18/2008)
    A discussion of the issue and arguments in favor of continuation of post-sixth year H-1B extensions when an approved labor certification is not filed with an I-140 petition within 180 days of its approval. AILA Doc. No. 08041830.
  • F-1 OPT Interim Final Rule and Gap in the "Cap Gap Bridge" (4/8/2008)
    AILA has received an update from USCIS regarding the interim final regulation revising and extending F-1 Optional Practical Training as it relates to allowing for a "bridge" for F-1 students who are picked in the H-1B lottery and requires the petitioner to have marked the petition "change of status." AILA Doc. No. 08040831.
  • AILA/USCIS Q & As (4/2/08)(100 KB - 4/2/2008)
    The Q & As address proposed multi-year EADs and Advance Parole docs, H-1B1s and the cap, the DV lottery and 245 application processing, K-3 processing, replacing a lost I-94 card, I-130s for beneficiaries in removal proceedings, premium processing, the I-9 Handbook, H-1B portability, VAWA, Matter of Perez-Vargas, CSPA, EB-5s, I-751s and much more. AILA Doc. No. 08040235.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (3/25/2008)(70 KB - 4/2/2008)
    The Q & As address I-589 nunc pro tunc application filing procedures, adjustment applications and material support, repeat requests for fingerprints, filing fees for adjustment applications in proceedings that are later administratively closed, Child Status Protection Act, Fee waivers, Diversity Visa 90 Day filing procedures, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08040259.
  • What If the H-1B U.S. Advanced Degree Cap Outlasts the Regular H-1B Cap? (3/19/2008)
    Excerpt from an exchange between AILA and USCIS regarding how the "multiple filings" issue would be handled if the regular H-1B cap is exhausted in the first 5 filing days, but the 20,000 cap for U.S. advanced degrees is not used up in that period. AILA Doc. No. 08031939.
  • What to Expect from the H-1B Interim Final Rule (3/19/2008)
    USCIS has informed AILA Liaison of changes to H-1B regulations to be published in an interim final rule that has been transmitted to the Federal Register. AILA Doc. No. 08031933.
  • FY2009 H-1B Filing Tips and Resources (Updated 3/19/08)(32 KB - 3/17/2008)
    H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Petitions for FY2009 (October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009) may be filed starting April 1, 2008. What follows are practical filing tips, with links to previously-posted InfoNet documents relating to the subject. AILA Doc. No. 08031733.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (2/26/2008)(50 KB - 3/7/2008)
    The Q & As address fee waiver rejections, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant applicants for adjustment of status, I-730s, Asylee EADS and security checks, refugee travel documents and re-entry permit, I-129 extension cases, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08030776.
  • Farewell From Prakash Khatri, CIS Ombudsman; Michael Dougherty New CIS Ombudsman(13 KB - 3/3/2008)
    Farewell e-mail from CIS Ombudsman Prakash Khatri announces new CIS Ombudsman Michael Dougherty. AILA Doc. No. 08030361.
  • USCIS to Hold VAWA EWI Adjustment Applications (2/20/2008)
    AILA has learned that the USCIS has sent an e-mail instructing district offices to hold in abeyance all applications for adjustment of status for VAWA self-petitioners who entered without inspection. AILA Doc. No. 08022067.
  • ICE Contract Juvenile Detention Facilities(1450 KB - 2/15/2008)
    This list provides contact information as well as statistics for juvenile detention facilities contracted by ICE. AILA Doc. No. 08021562.
  • USCIS Liaison Update on EAD Extension Applications (2/14/2008)
    USCIS has informed AILA liaison that service centers will not be denying EAD extension applications filed between 120 and 180 days, but rather, will now reject applications filed earlier than 120 days prior to the expiration of an EAD. AILA Doc. No. 08021468.
  • Stakeholder/USCIS Q & As (1/29/08)(126 KB - 2/13/2008)
    The Q & A address the receipting front log, receipting of TPS applications, naturalization and adjustment backlogs, processing time reports, policy guidance on the naturalization test, disabled naturalization applicants, religious workers, I-730 beneficiary derivative asylees and unlawful presence, material support waivers, and more. AILA Doc. No. 08021369.
  • USCIS and DOS Begin Implementation of the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (1/29/2008)
    AILA Liaison has been informed by USCIS and DOS that implementation of the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP) has begun. AILA Doc. No. 08012965.
  • 10th Annual AILA NY Chapter Immigration Law Symposium Notes(29 KB - 1/4/2008)
    Notes from the 10th Annual AILA NY Immigration Law Symposium address receipting, lock box expansion, EAD/AP multi-year renewals, refiling procedures for improperly rejected July 2007 Visa Bulletin cases, FY 2008 H-1B cap case filing procedures, security check updates, RFE response times, and a number of other topics of interest. AILA Doc. No. 08010431.
  • H-2B Cap Reached (3/25/2007)
    AILA has obtained confirmation that the cap for the second half of the fiscal year for H-2Bs has been reached. AILA Doc. No. 07032510.